Ford Rolls To New Orlando Council Term

October 1, 1986|By Goldie Blumenstyk of The Sentinel Staff

History repeated itself Tuesday as Orlando City Council member Nap Ford defeated three challengers in the court-ordered replay of the District 5 race. This time, however, Ford trounced the three other contenders in the non- partisan race for a four-year term with 64 percent of the votes cast.

With all nine precincts reporting, Ford won with 1,164 votes. Radio talk show host and minister Joe Flores had 424 votes, biology professor Charlie Jean Salter had 223 and businessman Tim Adams had 67.

There are about 150 absentee ballots still to be counted, but they will not affect the outcome.

Ford, who was attacked throughout the campaign as being too complacent about needs of the west Orlando district, which includes some of the city's poorest neighborhoods, said he felt vindicated by his showing.

''This thing about being out of touch, I hope this puts it to bed,'' said Ford, speaking from his victory party, where he and supporters were celebrating with ''chicken drumlets and a little Dewars.''

There were 291 fewer people voting in this election than in the Sept. 2 race, yet Ford's overall tally was 75 votes higher. Less than 20 percent of the district's 9,439 voters cast ballots.

The District 5 election was rerun because Flores challenged the results of the first Sept. 2 race. After an investigation showed that 11 people who did not live in the district were allowed to vote there, Orange Circuit Judge William Gridley nullified the results and ordered a new election.

At the time, Ford had appeared to win the race without a runoff by having 50 percent plus 5 votes.

Ford, 59, said this time he spent more time campaigning with ''people in my generation,'' and said many of his supporters were people who did not vote in the first race. He also sent out a mailing to every voter, which he said ''jolted'' some support.

Ford said Flores' court challenge helped his candidacy. ''The feedback that we got was that people were tired of it. He Flores just carried on too long and too loud.''

Flores, who ran an anti-establishment campaign that drew criticism from both Ford and Mayor Bill Frederick, said he had ''no regrets.''

He said he would stay involved in city issues, including a petition drive for a referendum to stop the downtown arena, and possibly run for office again. ''Just wait until I figure out how to win,'' said Flores, 29.

''We're still going to stay on their case. . . . Bill Frederick can take that big smile off his face, because he'll see me next week.''

Flores said his campaign was hurt by a Sept. 21 story in The Orlando Sentinel about the shooting of Ford's German shepherd Fritz. Flores said chances of drawing Ford into a runoff were ''stymied by the innuendo that we had something to do with it.''

Adams, 43, who barely campaigned for the rerun election, could not be reached for comment.

Salter, 58, was not available for comment. Her son Clint, who managed the campaign, said his mother was disappointed by the showing but would would continue pushing for improved housing and well-planned development as a member of the city's Municipal Planning Board.

Ford, a minority recruiter at the University of Central Florida, was first elected in 1980 to a two-year term when the city began phasing in single-member districts. He was re-elected to a full term in 1982, defeating Adams.

Ford said he wanted one more term on the city council to carry through his goals of getting more low-cost housing in the district, recruiting minorities to the police force and promoting downtown development.

Council members will be paid $10,816 next year. The new term begins Nov. 1. Along with Ford, council member Glenda Hood and Jeff Clark were returned to office earlier this year. Hood defeated civic gadfly Roger Gaines. Clark was unopposed.

Ford said his victory shows that Orlando residents are generally satisfied with their city government. ''We are not the magnificent seven. We have not solved all the problems. But we are sensitive to the people's needs. We're a good team.''